#2088: Re: #2063/Free trade and Haiti: Poincy replies to Heinl

[Robert Corbett <bcorbett@netcom.com>]

From: Jean Poincy <caineve@idt.net>
kSubject: Re: #2072: Re: #2063/ Re: #2032/Free trade and Haiti: Heinl 
asks..... (fwd)

Of course by revamping the Ayitian productive system to make it cost
efficient the Artibonite valley alone would at least meet 3/4 of the of
the Ayitian needs of rice. They would have to do away completely, not
reduced, with small-scale farming. Compensations to small farmers would
come in form of rent to them, percentage of what it is produced and of
the profit. 

	Any agrarian reform devised to redistribute land to farmers that do not
have tends to be discriminatory. Hence, it becomes a product of
division, hatred leading to deadly conflicts among families. However,
recollecting the land to form large plantation, will create jobs for
landless farmers and greater income for those who possess land as
compensations are taken into account.

	This aspect of agrarian reform is a sensitive issue and has caused the
fall of many Ayitian leaders from day 1 of Ayiti's existence. To stay on
as an effective leader, one does not want to touch on the land
redistribution factor, to create large-scale production. All factions
will shoot at the man who dares doing so. Large owners favor
redistribution to keep small farmers of their back by giving to them
unproductive small plots and small farmers are too happy to receive them
as they gain the status of land owner. Now imagine how they would go
when a government decides to do a land recollection for grand scale
production, both sides would feel a loser and declare war at the man.

	At any rate, the cheapness of the rice has nothing to do with the
productive capacity of the land. It is more so a mentality problem. This
is to say that even with increase with rice production people tend to
prefer the imported one, because they believe it is better and I can
understand them. Ayitian producers are so complacent with their
situation that they don't know about the concept of improvement. 

	However, if they have to produce to export, they know they have to
follow a certain quality guideline. When it is about the local market
their lack of respect for the consumers is quite vivid.  

	Ayiti can feed itself with appropriate agrarian policy and resource
allocation not to forget the efficient organization of the factors of
production.



Ayiti has lived, lives and will live
Mozeb